Page 25 of Marrying a Cowboy

Hoping she hadn’t ruined their relationship by asking too many questions, Emma moved to pull her hand away. But just as she did, Austin tightened his grip on herfingers.

“I want to tell you,” he said. His voice was low. “But I don’t want you to look at medifferently.”

She hesitated and then glanced up at him. His dark eyes were stormy and full of pain. How could she show him that he could tellher?

“I won’t look at you differently,” she said, reaching out and resting her hand on hisforearm.

His jaw muscles flinched as he glanced from her and then around the room. “Last year, my mom and I went to the Tavern for some drinks. I had one too many and was pretty out of it. Mom was pretty drunk as well. I didn’t know it, but she got into her car and left before I could stop her. On the way home, she got into an accident. It was fatal.” His voice faded off as he closed his eyes. It was if he were reliving thememory.

Emma’s heart broke for him. What a horrible experience to go through. “Austin, you have toknow—”

He broke from her grasp and turned. “Don’t say that. Please, don’t say that,” he said, holding up hishand.

“But it’s true.” Emma wasn’t going to stand by and watch as he beat himself up overthis.

“You don’t understand, Emma. It was my fault. I was supposed to protect her. After my dad left, I was the only one she had. If I hadn’t been so wasted, I would have stopped her. I was selfish.” He hesitated as his gaze made his way over to her. “I amselfish.”

Emma took a step back. What was hesaying?

“I was selfish to ask you to come here and do this for me. If you want to leave and annul the wedding right now, I wouldn’t blame you. I shouldn’t have asked you to do this.” He turned slightly so his shoulder was toher.

Why was he pulling away? Didn’t he know that she was here to help him? That she knew what she was getting into when she said yes? They’d come this far, there was no way she was quittingnow.

“Austin, are you serious?” sheasked.

He glanced over at her with his brows drawn together. “What?”

“You think that I’m just going to leave? If I wasn’t in it for the long haul, I wouldn’t have come. I’m here to help you, and I’m not leaving until your grandfather’s ranch is in your name, got it?” She stepped up to him and brushed his elbow with herfingers.

His shoulder’s loosened as he turned back to her. “Yousure?”

Emma held up her hand. “I promise. I will let you know when I’m finished. But right now, I’m anything butdone.”

A smile twitched on the edge of his lips. “Thanks.”

She reached out her arms and motioned for him to hug her. He hesitated but then wrapped his arms around her waist and pulled her close. The feeling of his body next to hers mixed with his cologne sent rushes of emotions throughout her body. The feeling of his hands against her back and the pressure of his arms on her waist took her breathaway.

Was he feeling any of this too? Was it just her? Desperate to save herself, she forced a laugh. “That’s what fake wives are for,” shesaid.

He pulled back and glanced down at her. His expression was different, almost as if he didn’t like the sound of her statement. But just as quickly as it came, it melted into a wide smile. “Right. Fake wife.” He took a step back and then waved toward the door. “After you,m’lady.”

Emma nodded and grabbed her purse. He followed her out of the room. She was grateful for the distance she’d put between them. It was ridiculous for her to even think that hecared.

If her past had taught her anything, it was that she was clueless when it came to relationships. And at this moment, she couldn’t fail at another one. Besides, what would it say about her if she couldn’t even make a fake one work? Right now, getting her emotions under control seemed like the best idea. For her heart and hermind.

Chapter Ten

Austin

Austin pulledinto the parking lot of the Tavern and took a deep breath. He could do this.Right?

He glanced over at Emma who was studying the building in front of them. She was quiet on the ride to the bar. He wanted to ask her if he’d done something wrong. He couldn’t deny the moment they’d had in her room. When he’d voiced a part of his past that he was most ashamed of. But when she’d laughed and reminded him that they were only fake married, and he crashed back toearth.

Why had it bugged him so much that she had said that? He knew their marriage was fake. Neither had deep feelings for the other. At least, Emma didn’t have feelings for him. She was just a nice person. Why couldn’t he get his emotions to realizethat?

Plastering a smile on his face, he turned to Emma. “Ready?” heasked.

She bit her lip and glanced over at him. “Areyou?”

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